A Life Restored (10 page)

It was a strange sensation when that realization hit him.
 
His throat constricted.
 
He feared what would have happened to her if they had been caught.
 
The worst that he would have faced was death.
 
She, on the other hand…
 
He could only imagine what fate she would have suffered before death.

The thought stirred a new protectiveness in him.
 
He felt the heavy burden of responsibility.
 
He had to get her to Prescott unharmed.
 
He had to reunite her with Adam.
 
Any other outcome…
 
Well, Adam would never forgive him.

He wasn’t really equipped for this hero thing.
 
He felt entirely inadequate.
 
The moment he saw her stir this morning, he was afraid she would give away their position.
 
The only thing he thought about was keeping her silent.

Until he laid down next to her and drew her into his arms.
 
Then the only thing he could think about was how perfect she felt there.
 
Well, that and what it might be like to kiss her again.

Perhaps confusing was another word he would add to the list that described Caroline.
 
That’s how he felt when he was around her.

Pushing thoughts of her aside for the moment, Thomas scanned the horizon.
 
If he figured correctly it was almost noon.
 
The rustlers and the stop to change her bandages set them even further behind.
 
There was no way they would reach the next station early enough to change out the horses and head into Prescott tonight.
 
The best choice would be to stay put at the station.
 
Spend the night.
 
Then head out first thing in the morning.

So much for time off between runs.
 
Tomorrow would be Wednesday.
 
His last day off before he would have to head out on his next run to La Paz.
 
He came to depend on those few days to rest up and recharge for the next grueling trip.

Not this time.
 
He would be fortunate if he got Caroline settled safely before he had to leave again.

Lifting his felt hat from his head, he ran his fingers through his damp hair.
 
Drew did that a lot, too.
 
Only he tended to do it more out of nervousness than frustration like Thomas did.
 
Setting his hat firmly back on his head, he let out a long sigh.

Two more hours passed before they arrived at Perry Quinn’s station.
 
Station was a bit of a glorified term for the place.
 
Perry had a barn to stable several horses for the La Paz Express in addition to his own ranch horses.
 
His small cabin sat only a few yards from his cowboys’ bunkhouse.
 
The place seemed fairly deserted.

Thomas reined in his horse in front of the small cabin.
 
He dismounted and tied his horse to the hitching post before helping Caroline down.
 
Then he secured her horse.

Walking toward the cabin, he realized he barely knew Perry Quinn.
 
Most of the time he stopped at this station only long enough to fill up his canteen and toss the mail bags onto a fresh mount.
 
He didn’t even know if there was a Mrs. Quinn or not.

Reaching his hand up, he rapped a hearty knock on the door.

When there was no answer, Thomas opened the door.
 
He motioned Caroline inside.

“Wait here.”

“Won’t whoever owns this cabin be upset that we’ve entered his house uninvited?” she asked, her eyes rounded with concern.

He bit back a frustrated sigh.
 
“You’re in the West now.
 
Men in these parts expect visitors to make themselves at home.
 
That’s how we all survive.”

Her face revealed her hesitancy.
 
He held a chair out for her and she finally sat at the table.

“Perry Quinn runs this place.
 
He and his men are decent.
 
If you come across any of them before I do, just explain why we’re here.
 
I’ll be back.”

As he started to leave, her voice caught his attention again.
 
“Where are you going?”

“To find Perry.”

He pulled the door shut behind him, effectively ending the conversation.
 
She seemed set on questioning everything he did.
 
It was getting old.

Untying his horse, he mounted it and rode out toward a herd of grazing cattle.
 
He found Perry rather quickly.

“Was concerned when you didn’t show up yesterday,” Perry said.
 
“Especially since the stage hasn’t shown up yet.”

“The stage won’t be coming.
 
I’ve got the lone survivor with me.”

“Is he okay?”

“She’s fine.”

Perry’s eyes rounded.
 
“You sure
she
ain’t been… hurt?”

“Positive.
 
She’s been with me for the last two days.
 
She’s at your cabin now.
 
Name is Caroline Larson.”

Yanking back on his horse’s reins, Perry turned to look him in the eye.
 
“Larson.
 
She related to—”

“Adam Larson.
 
Yes.
 
He’s her brother.”

“Best go get her settled then.”

Chapter 12

Caroline looked around the small cabin.
 
A bed stood against the wall in the far corner opposite from the table.
 
A trunk rested at the foot of the bed.
 
A dresser lined the wall next to the bed.
 
A comfy chair watched the empty fireplace.
 
The cabin had a few feminine touches.
 
Curtains.
 
Neatly organized pantry shelves.
 
A few pretty things scattered on various surfaces.
 
She wondered where Mrs. Quinn might be.
 
She certainly made the small space feel cozy.

A brief knock sounded before a man entered the cabin, followed by Thomas.
 
The man stopped abruptly.

“You forgot to mention she was young.
 
And lovely.”

Thomas appeared suddenly nervous, turning his hat around in his hands.
 
“Ah… Perry Quinn, meet Miss Caroline Larson.”

“A pleasure,” Perry said, reaching to take her hand.
 
He placed a kiss on top.

The way Thomas described him, she expected Perry to be older—much older.
 
Why he couldn’t be more than twenty-five years old!
 
So tall, too.
 
A good foot taller than Thomas and her.
 
Something about him reminded her of Will Colter.
 
Maybe it was his height.

“Mr. Quinn.”
 
She smiled.

“None of that now.
 
Perry will be just fine.”

“Perry then.
 
Is your wife around?
 
I would very much like to meet her.”

Sadness settled around his eyes before he quickly looked away.
 
“She… um… She passed almost a year ago.”

Caroline bit the inside of her cheek, annoyed that her mouth got her in trouble again.
 
“I’m sorry for your loss.”

Perry cleared his throat and changed the subject.
 
“You look like you might enjoy a chance to freshen up.”

He walked towards the trunk.
 
“My wife’s things,” he said, opening the lid.
 
“Please have a look and see if you might be able to use them.”

“Oh, I couldn’t.”

Thomas shifted uncomfortably.
 
“Perry, that’s a very gracious offer.
 
I’m sure Caroline appreciates it, especially since most of her things were lost in the robbery.”

Perry’s eyebrows shot up, hiding under the shadow of his hat.
 
He recovered from his surprise quickly and turned to her.
 
“Well, in that case, I’d be very honored if you helped yourself to everything in the trunk.
 
I’m sure a fresh change of clothes would be welcomed.”

“Are you certain?”
 
Caroline hesitated, feeling rather uncomfortable taking his wife’s things.

“No sense in them just sitting here when you could use ‘em.”

“Thank you.”

A curt nod answered.
 
“I’ll fetch you some water to freshen up.”

In a minute, he was back with a pail of water.
 
He showed her where he kept some soap.
 
Then he escorted Thomas from the cabin.

“Tell me exactly what happened with that stage.”
 
Caroline heard Perry’s muffled voice as the door latched shut.
 
She couldn’t hear Thomas’s response.

Carefully, she pulled each of the dresses and undergarments from the trunk at her feet, still feeling rather awkward about taking these things.
 
She held the first dress up to her body, holding the edges by her side.
 
Mrs. Quinn’s waist and bust must have been a bit fuller than hers.
 
With a makeshift belt the dress should suffice until she found time to take it in later.

The next items were a few undergarments.
 
Clearly not the number she was used to wearing.
 
Perhaps she would feel less warm on the ride to Prescott with fewer layers.

She picked up an apron and almost tossed it aside.
 
Looking at the long ties, she decided she could cut them from the apron to use as a cinch around her waist.
 
Digging around in the trunk she found a pair of scissors and set about the task.

Once she had the clothing laid out, she checked the latch on the door.
 
For her own peace of mind, she slid a chair in front of the door.
 
At least that way if anyone attempted to enter, she would have some warning.
 
Then she stripped down.

Caroline would have preferred a nice long bath with hot water rather than the quick scrub from a pail.
 
This was better than nothing.

As soon as she finished washing up, she donned one of Mrs. Quinn’s undergarments.
 
Thankfully it had long ties and she was able to tighten it enough so it would stay in place.
 
Then she donned the simple gray calico dress.
 
As she suspected, the bust and waist were somewhat roomier than what she needed.
 
She took the old apron tie and knotted it around her waist.
 
That took care of the waist.
 
The bust still felt too loose.

Going back to the trunk, she discovered a broach.
 
She gathered some of the excess fabric at the neckline and folded it over.
 
Then she secured it into place with the broach.
 
Pleased with the final results, she picked up her yellow-now-dirt-brown dress and petticoats.
 
She cut off a few strips the petticoats for bandages.
 
Turning the dress over in her hands, she didn’t think it was salvageable.
 
But she would try once she got to Prescott.

Picking up one other dress from Mrs. Quinn’s things, she stuffed it in a sack with her ruined yellow dress.
 
She put the remaining items back in the trunk and closed the lid.
 
She would tie the sack to the back of her horse tomorrow for it now contained all the clothing she owned.

Glancing around the room, she tidied the place before removing the chair from in front of the door.
 
She lifted the bucket of filthy water and carried it outside, dumping it on what appeared to be a garden.
 
Then she set the bucket back inside the door.

She took the brush she found in the trunk and began the long process of trying to brush out the tangles from her hair.
 
She wished she could have washed the dust and grime from it.
 
At least the brush helped smooth it out enough that she could fashion it into a chignon.

Once she felt normal again, she tried to determine what to do with herself.
 
When would the men return?
 
Perhaps not until supper time, which was a good hour or two away.

Walking back outside, she stood in the shade of the porch.
 
She heard the men’s voices in the barn.
 
They discussed something for another minute or two before the voices quieted.
 
Caroline headed that direction.

Quietly, she slipped into the barn and listened for any hint of where they might be.
 
A soft splash sounded further back.
 
She followed the noise.
 
When she was close enough to see, she let out a little gasp.

Thomas stood, with his back turned, shirt off.
 
Even the top of his long johns hung over the waist of his pants.
 
His back was marked with a few round dents of marred flesh.
 
Scars from the war?
 
Other than that, his back looked perfect to her.
 
Muscled.
 
Strong.
 
She stared at him, unable to move her gaze.

When he started to turn, she jolted from her trance.
 
He saw her and quickly grabbed his shirt, clutching it close to cover part of his chest.
 
A wry smile played at the corner of his lips.
 
She hadn’t noticed how blue his eyes looked before—like little drops of the deep Arizona sky captured in tiny orbs—now glistening with a hint of laughter.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice very controlled and just above a whisper.

“I… um…”

What was she doing there again?

He circled his finger using the same gesture she used earlier in the day, requesting that she turn around.
 
Heat singed her cheeks and she quickly turned her back to him.

“I wasn’t sure if you were planning to press on to Prescott tonight,” she said, her voice quivering from her nerves.

The sound of water splashing was the only noise that answered.
 
She waited.

“You can turn around now,” he said.

She did.
 
His sandy hair formed long wet clumps across his forehead.
 
He ran his hands through his wet hair several times before leaving it.
 
His shirt covered his chest now, though the memory of his back would stay with her for some time.

Feeling self-conscious, she crossed her arms over her chest.

His gaze traveled the length of her body, resting on her green eyes.
 
What seemed like minutes passed.
 
Caroline’s patience grew thin.

“What are your plans?”

A strange expression crossed his features before disappearing.
 
He hesitated.

“It’s too late to try to head up the mountain.
 
We would lose daylight before making it up.
 
We won’t reach Prescott tonight no matter how hard we try.”

“Don’t you usually ride the rest of the way in one afternoon?”
 
She challenged him.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.
 
“Yes.
 
But, that’s by myself on a trail I know well.
 
You’ll be much too slow.”

“You don’t know that.”

“And you don’t know what we’ll find on that trail.
 
It’s too risky.”

She expelled a long drawn out sigh, ending with her shoulders slumping.
 
She was tired.
 
She just wanted to be there already, safe with her brother and friends.

“Look,” he started as he came closer.
 
He reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.
 
Warmth spread from his touch.

“I promise I’ll get you there tomorrow before night fall.
 
Probably even in time for supper.
 
Maybe even by noon.
 
It’s just not safe to head up that mountain at night.
 
I would only attempt it if our lives were in danger.”

Caroline blinked back the tears.
 
Frustration chaffed on her nerves.
 
She should have listened to Millie.

“I’ll talk to Perry and we’ll work out arrangements to stay here tonight.
 
No more surprise wake up calls, okay.”

Swallowing back the lump in her throat, she nodded.
 
He squeezed her shoulder then removed his hand.

“Good.”

He stood in front of her, making no move to leave.
 
When she looked up into those gorgeous blue eyes, her breath stopped.
 
His gaze darted across the features of her face, leaving a burning trail behind.
 
He lifted his hand and almost touched her cheek before he dropped it suddenly to his side.

Stepping back, he said, “You look nice.”

Caroline couldn’t help the laugh that fell from her lips.
 
“Ha!
 
You get kicked in the head or something?”
 
She couldn’t imagine anyone looking frumpier than she did now in clothes that were too big for her.

A grin lit his face.
 
“If you feel up to it, you might head on up to the house and see about fixing up some grub.
 
Perry mentioned the boys usually take turns.
 
I’m sure you can cook and it might be a nice way to thank him for your new outfit.”

I’m sure you can cook.
 
The voice in her head was mocking.
 
Of course she could cook.
 
Narrowing her eyes at him, she stared him down.
 
He held her gaze.

“Humph.”
 
She turned on her heel and marched out of the barn back up to the house.
 
She’d show that Thomas just how good of a cook she was.